Ironer attachment for washers



April 25, 1933.

s. s. HOLLAND IRONER ATTACHMENT FOR WASHERS Filed Sept. 28, '1929 f INVENTOR 5m 6 5. H0//d/7d Mm A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 25, B933 UNETEfi STAFES tenant Parana castes SIDNEY S. HOLLAND, OF KANSAS CITY, MESSOURI, ASSIGNOB GE NE=HALF T @SCAR- BIEGER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI IRONELR ATTACHMENT roe wasnnas Application filed September 28, 1929. Serial No. 395,905.

My invention relates to laundry apparatus and more particularly to attachments therefore, the principal objects of the invention being to connect an ironer with a washer for selective operation of the ironer by the washer operating mechanism.

Domestic ironing machines are ordinarily supported independently of washing machines although devices have beenv provided for enabling a housewife to mount an ironer on a washing machine for operation by the motor-operated mechanism of the washing machine. In this instance the ironer is supported at the top end of the washer in place of the wringer at an inconveniently high position and the wringer must be dismounted and the ironer mounted in its place before using the ironer, and before using the wringer again the ironer must in turn be dismounted and the wringer mounted in its place, thereby causing the housewife excessive inconvenience. With this system the ironer is mounted at a height that compels the operator to stand while operating the ironer thereby causing undue fatigue.

Particular objects of my invention are to mount a power ironer either permanently or temporarily in convenient position in operable relation with the vertical motor 0 erated shaft of a washing machine where y the housewife may use either the washing machine or the ironer without the necessity of dismounting or mounting the wringer or ironer to operate one or the other. This method permits the housewife to be seated while-ironing thereby eliminating the undue fatigue of standing.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are ilfustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ironer mounted on a washing machine by means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a housing mounted on a washing machine shaft shown fragmcntarily, and a portion of a housing for an ironer adapted to be mounted on said housing.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the attachment and adjacent portions of the ironer.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the attachment on the line M, Fig. 3, a washer shaft and fixed sleeve on which the attachment is mounted being shown fragmentarily.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of the latching mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawing:

1 designates generally a washing machine or motor operated washer including vertically spaced fixed sleeves or sockets 2 and 3 in which a motor 0 crated shaft 4; is rotatable. A wringer 5 is adapted to be mounted on the washer and operated by the shaft, ordinary combinations of wringers and ironers requiring that one or the other be mounted on the top of the washer, and one at a time, for operation by the shaft.

6 designates a power ironer including a frame 7 having end arms 8 adapted to support a shaft 9 on which a roll 10 is fixed. In ordinary practice the frame is mounted on a support and the shaft is suitably connected with a motor for rotating the roll, for example the frame being mounted on a washer in the normal elevated position of the wringer.

My invention includes a bracket-like housing member 11 having a lateral arcuate portion 12 adapted to extend circumferentially of the washer shaft 4 and to engage the upper edge of and be supported by the fixed sleeve 3. A worm 13 is fixed to the washer shaft 4, and a worm gear 14 is supported ona stub shaft 15 journalcd in a tubular boss 16 extending from one end of the housing 11.

A housing member 1'( is provided to form. the inner end of the ironer frame, and is adapted for substantial alignment with the open end of the housing member 11. A perlpheral flange 18 on the housing 17 has keyhole slots 19 for mounting the ironer on a flange 20 of the housing 11 provided with headed pins 21 engageable in the slots.

A sleeve 22 slidable on the outer end of a reduced extension or stub shaft 23 of the ironer shaft and keyed by a pin 24 against rotation thereon is provided with a slot 25 to comprise a clutch member engageable with a tongued clutch member 26 on the worm gear. The sleeve has a peripheral recess 27 in which is engaged the inner end of a bell crank lever 28 pivoted to the ironer housing member for controlling the clutch. A coil spring 29 bearing against the sleeve tends to move the same into engagement with the worm gear.

A cam 30 rotatable on the shaft 23 by a lever handle 31 engages the outer end 32 of the bell crank lever to move the same out of clutching position against the influence of the spring.

The worm 13 may be applied to the normal washer shaft but I prefer to install a new shaft having the worm as an original part thereof.

I further modify ordinary washer structure, by providing an elongated downwardly extending sleeve 2 fixed to a lateral bracket 33 on the washer to provide a depending portion, and form an annular axial recess in the end of the sleeve to comprise a tapering socket 34. An upwardly extending tubular projection on a sleeve 35 is formed on the arcuate portion 12 of the bracket-like housing 11 having a tapered upper end seated in said socket 34.

A plunger 36' mounted in an opening 37 in the wall of the socket is adapted to enter one of a series of notches 38 in the bracket sleeve 35 for latching the ironer in-selected position relative to the washer. A spring 39 on the plunger-movably urges the same inwardly of the opening 37.

The motor shaft extends through the bracket member 12 and sleeve 35 into the washer frame sleeve 21 and is provided with a clutch portion 40 adapted for engagement by a clutch portion 41 of a wringer operating shaft when the wringer is mounted on the washer. The shaft 41 will rotate continuously while the motor is running and may be engaged with the wringer mechanism by manipulation of a lever 42.

In using the invention, the housing member 11 rests on the washer sleeve and is supported thereby, to retain the worm gear in engagement with the worm on the washer shaft. The ironer frame may be mounted on the bracket-like housing, and need not be removed for using the washer since the housing may be rotated to move the ironer away from the back of the washer or any other position where it may interfere with washing operations. The ironer may be latched in desired position for ironing by causing the plunger to enter one of the notches in the sleeve of the ironer bracket.

The worm gear is constantly operated by the washer shaft when the washer motor is in motion, but the ironer shaft is operated only responsively to manipulations of the ironer lever for releasing the bell crank lever to permit the spring to shift the clutch sleeve flcir Engaging the ironer shaft with the washer s a t.

The ironer is positioned at a suitable elevation to permit the user to sit while ironing.

IVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, vertically spaced sleeves on the support, and an operating shaft rotatable in the sleeves, a housing-like bracket supported by and between said sleeves, a worm fixed to the operating shaft and located within said bracket and a worm gear rotatably mounted within said bracket and meshed with said worm, an ironer mounted on the bracket, and means for transmitting motion of said worm gear to the ironer.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, vertically spaced sleeves extending toward each other respectively from upper and lower ends of the support, an operating shaft rotatable in said sleeves and having a portion exposed between the spaced ends thereof, a bracket including a portion surrounding said exposed portion of the shaft and having an upper end rotatable in the upper sleeve, an ironer mounted on the bracket, and means in the bracket for transmitting motion of said shaft to the ironer.

3. In an apparatus of the character described including a support, a wringer pivotally mounted to swing above said support and a wringer-operating shaft extending vertically of the support, an ironer support pivotally mounted to swing about the axis of said shaft below said wringer, an ironer carried by the ironer support and gearing rotatably mounted on said support for actuating the ironer from said vertical shaft.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a vertical sleeve on the support, an operating shaft rotatable in the sleeve, :1. housing-like bracket pivotally supported on said sleeve, a gear fixed to the operating shaft and located within said bracketa gear rotatably mounted within the bracket and meshed with said first named gear, an ironer mounted on the bracket, and means for transmitting motion of said last named.

gear to the ironer.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SIDNEY S. HOLLAND. 

